Serbian cross

{{see also|Byzantine flags and insignia#Tetragrammatic cross}}

Crosses with firesteels have been used since Roman times as symbols, but not as coats of arms or emblems. Some historians connect it with the labarum, the Imperial flag of Constantine the Great (r. 306–337).{{cite book |last1=Stanojević |first1=Stanoje |title=Glasnik Istoriskog Društva u Novom Sadu III |date=1930 |publisher=Srpska Manastirska Štamp |pages=98-99}} In the 6th century, the cross with four fields (with either letters or heraldry) appeared on Byzantine coins.{{cite book |last1=Vasiljevič Solovjev |first1=Aleksandar |title=Istorija srpskog grba |date=1958 |publisher=Srpska misao |page=23 |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Istorija_srpskog_grba.html?id=BAVIAAAAMAAJ}} The symbol was adopted by the First Crusaders starting wih the People's Crusade (1096).{{cite book |last1=Zmajić |first1=Bartol |title=Heraldika |date=1971 |publisher=Školska knjiga |page=3}}

Michael VIII Palaiologos (1261–1282) adopted the symbol when he resurrected the Byzantine Empire, with the initials (letters β) of the imperial motto of the Palaiologos dynasty: "King of Kings, help the King" ({{langx|grc|Βασιλεῦ Βασιλέων Βασιλεῖ Βοήθει}}; {{lang|grc-Latn|Basileu Basileōn, Basilei Boethei}}).{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

It was used on flags and coins.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} The symbol appears on the Imperial flag divellion (διβέλλιον) used in front of all other banners, recorded by Pseudo-Kodinos ({{floruit}} 1347–68) wrongly{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} as "a cross with firesteels" ({{lang|grc|σταυρὸν μετὰ πυρεκβόλων}}),{{sfn|Palavestra|1998|p=1}} and depicted in the Castilian Conosçimiento de todos los reynos atlas ({{circa}} 1350).{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}{{cite web | title =Other Byzantine flags shown in the "Book of All Kingdoms" (14th century) | url=http://flagspot.net/flags/gr_byz.html#oth | publisher=Flags of the World | access-date=2010-10-10}} As Alexander Soloviev writes, the use of letters in western heraldry is nonexistent.

File:Flag of Palaeologus Dynasty.svg, mid-13th century]]

The oldest preserved historical source of the cross used in Serbia is from the Dečani oil-lamp (Dečanski polijelej), which was a gift to King Stefan Milutin (r. 1282–1321), the ktetor (founder) of Visoki Dečani, now preserved at the Monastery of Prohor Pčinjski.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} Stojan Novaković argued that the recorded use of the Serbian cross, as a national symbol, began in 1397, during the rule of Stefan Lazarević.{{cite book |last1=Novaković |first1=Stojan |editor1-last=Ćirković |editor1-first=Sima |title=Istorija i tradicija - izabrani radovi |date=1982 |publisher=Srpska književna zadruga |page=496 |chapter=Heraldički običaji u Srba u primeni i književnosti}} Serbian historian Stanoje Stanojević argued that it entered its use in 1345, with Stefan Dušan's elevation to Emperor. In the Middle Ages, both the "Greek style", with closed fire-steels (β–B), and the "Serbian syle", with open fire-steels (C-S), were used in Serbia.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

A 1439 map by Gabriel de Vallseca used both the Serbian cross and eagle when depicting Serbia.

In South Slavic heraldic sources (also known as Illyrian Armorials), the Serbian cross is found in the Korenić-Neorić Armorial (1595), which shows the coat of arms of Serbia (Svrbiae) as a white cross over a red background, with four firesteels, also depicting the Mrnjavčević noble house with the same design, with inverted colours and the Serbian eagle in the center of the cross. According to Mavro Orbini (1607), it was used by Vukašin Mrnjavčević (King, 1365–1371) and Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović (r. 1371–1389).{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} Next, it is found in the Belgrade Armorial II (ca. 1600–1620), the Fojnica Armorial (between 1675 and 1688), the Armorial of Stanislaus Rubcich (c. 1700), and Stemmatographia (1741), while still continuing to be used in foreign heraldic sources.

The Metropolitanate of Karlovci, established in 1691, adopted it in its seal.

After the Serbian Revolution, the Serbian cross then appeared on all official Serbian coats of arms, except the Serbian coat of arms adopted in 1947, which had the cross removed, leaving four stylized S; this was done symbolically by the Yugoslav government to "socially curtail and politically marginalize religious communities and religion in general".{{cite book|author=Mitja Velikonja|title=Religious Separation and Political Intolerance in Bosnia-Herzegovina|url=https://archive.org/details/religiousseparat0000veli|url-access=registration|year=2003|publisher=Texas A&M University Press|isbn=978-1-60344-724-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/religiousseparat0000veli/page/187 187]–|quote=nations (in a symbolical sense as well, for example, by removing the cross from the Serbian coat of arms but keeping the four stylized esses), and to socially curtail and politically marginalize religious communities and religion in general.}} Miloš Obrenović adopted the Serbian cross as the military flag when forming the first units of the regular army in 1825.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IA_0ouM0CKYC&q=Српски+симбол|title=Posebna izdanja 295|publisher=SANU|year=1957|page=133}}

File:Flag of Revolutionary Serbia.svg|Revolutionary Serbia (1804-1812)

File:Flag of Serbia (1835).svg|Principality of Serbia (1835)

File:Flag_of_Serbia_(1835–1882).svg|Principality of Serbia (1835–1882)

File:Flag of the Serbian Vojvodina.svg|Serbian Vojvodina (1848–1849)

File:Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Serbia_from_1882-1918.png|Kingdom of Serbia (1882–1918)

File:State Flag of Serbian Krajina (1991).svg|Republic of Serbian Krajina (1992–1995)

File:Flag of the Republic of Eastern Slavonia - Baranja - and Western Syrmia.svg|Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia (1995–1998)

File:Flag_of_Serbia_(2004–2010).svg|Republic of Serbia (2004–2010)

File:Mrnjavcevic - Illyrian Coat of arms.png|Mrnjavčević family,
(c. 1370)

File:Zastava i grb nemanjicke Srbije (iz 1439. godine), prema portolanu Gabriel de Vallseca.jpg|Serbian Empire,
by G. de Vallseca (1439)

File:Serbian coat of arms, Belgrade Armorial II.jpg|Serbia,
Belgrade Armorial II
(c. 1600–1620)

File:Arma de Slavni Triballi de Illirico.jpg|Serbs,
ed. of Mavro Orbini's Regno degli Slavi (1601)

File:Coa Serbia Country History (Fojnica Armorial) (14th century).svg|Serbia,
Fojnica Armorial
(1675–1688)

File:Grb-karlovacke-mitropolije.jpg|Metropolitanate of Karlovci (1713)

File:Praviteljstvujušči sovjet serbski.JPG|Revolutionary Serbia (1805–1813)

File:Milos Obrenovic 1819.png|Prince Miloš I
(1817–1835)

File:COA of Principality of Serbia.svg|Principality of Serbia
(1835–1882)

File:Serbian_Vojvodina_1848.png|Serbian Vojvodina
(1848–1849)

File:Coat of arms of Serbian Vojvodina.svg|Voivodeship of Serbia and Ban. of Temeschwar
(1849–1860)

File:Grb kneza Milana Obrenovica IV.png|King Milan I
(1878–1889)

File:Coat of Arms of Petar I Karadjordjevic (as a Knez).png|King Peter I
(1903–1918)

File:Veliki dvorski grb Obrenovića.svg|Obrenović dynasty (1882–1903)

File:Coat of arms of the Karadjordjevic dynasty .png|Karađorđević dynasty
(1903–1918)

File:Royal Coat of arms of Serbia (1882–1918).svg|Kingdom of Serbia (1882–1918)

File:Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.svg|Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1944)

File:Coat_of_arms_of_the_Government_of_National_Salvation_2.svg|Government of National Salvation (1941–1944)

File:Coat of Arms of the Socialist Republic of Serbia.svg|Socialist Republic of Serbia (1947–1992) and Republic of Serbia (1992–2004)

File:Coat_of_arms_of_the_Republic_of_Serbian_Krajina.svg|Republic of Serbian Krajina (1992–1995)

File:Former COA Republika Srpska.svg|Republika Srpska (1992–2006)

File:Coat_of_Arms_of_the_Republic_of_Eastern_Slavonia_-_Baranja_-_and_Western_Syrmia.svg|Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia (1995–1998)

File:Coat of arms of Yugoslavia (1992–2003).svg|FR Yugoslavia (1992–2003) and
Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006)

File:Coat of arms of Serbia (2004-2010).svg|Republic of Serbia (2004–2010)

File:Coat of arms of Serbia small (2004 - 2010).svg|Republic of Serbia (2004–2010)

File:Flag_of_Serbia.svg|State flag of the Republic of Serbia

File:Coat of arms of Serbia.svg|Greater coat of arms of the Republic of Serbia

File:Coat_of_arms_of_Serbia_small.svg|Lesser coat of arms of the Republic of Serbia

File:Tradicionalna_zastava_Vojvodine_sa_grbom.svg|Traditional flag of Vojvodina

File:Tradicionalni_grb_Vojvodine.svg|Traditional coat of arms of Vojvodina

File:GrbOpsiteArandjelovac.gif|Aranđelovac (Serbia)

File:COA Barajevo.gif|Barajevo (Serbia)

File:COA Kragujevac.png|Kragujevac (Serbia)

COA Ljubovija.gif|Ljubovija (Serbia)

File:Mladenovac-zastava.png|Mladenovac (Serbia)

File:COA_Rača.png|Rača (Serbia)

File:Srpska crnja grb.jpg|Srpska Crnja (Serbia)

File:FLAG Surdulica.gif|Surdulica (Serbia)

COA Varvarin.png|Varvarin (Serbia)

COA Voždovac.gif|Voždovac (Serbia)

COA Vracar (small).png|Vračar (Serbia)

Zemun stemma.png|Zemun (Serbia)

File:FLAG Zvezdara.gif|Zvezdara (Serbia)

File:Грб Градишке.svg|Gradiška
(Republika Srpska, BiH)

File:Источно Ново Сарајево (грб).svg|Istočno Novo Sarajevo
(Republika Srpska, BiH)

File:Котор-Варош (грб).svg|Kotor Varoš
(Republika Srpska, BiH)

File:Laktaši (grb).svg|Laktaši
(Republika Srpska, BiH)

File:Srbac-Grb.gif|Srbac
(Republika Srpska, BiH)

File:Šipovo (grb).svg|Šipovo
(Republika Srpska, BiH)

File:Višegrad (grb).svg|Višegrad
(Republika Srpska, BiH)

File:Coat of arms of Staro Nagoričane.svg|Staro Nagoričane
(North Macedonia)

File:Oznaka_pripadnosti.svg|Shoulder patch on service uniforms of the Serbian Armed Forces

File:Oznaka_pripadnosti_maskirna.svg|Shoulder patch on combat uniforms of the Serbian Armed Forces

File:SerbianVolunteerCorpsBadge.png|Emblem of Serbian Volunteer Corps (Ljotićevci) paramilitary organization
(1941–1945)

File:SPP_SrbDobGarda.svg|Emblem of Serb Volunteer Guard (Arkanovci) paramilitary unit (1990–1996)

File:Amblem_helikoperske_jedinice_novi.png|Emblem of the Police Helicopter Unit

File:Uprava_za_tehniku.png|Emblem of the Police Technical Directorate

File:Амблем Безбедоносно Информативне Агенције.png|Emblem of the Security Intelligence Agency

Emblem of the State Security Directorate.svg|Emblem of the State Security Directorate (1991-2002)

Sretenjski_Orden_drugog_stepena.jpg|Sretenje Order

Orden_zasluga_za_odbranu_i_bezbednost_treceg_stepena.jpg|Order of Merits in Defense and Security

File:Grb_Srpske_akademije_nauka_i_umetnosti.jpg|Member badge of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

File:Flag_of_the_SPC.svg|Flag of the Serbian Orthodox Church

File:Serbia,_Belgrade,_Sait_Sava_Temple,_cross_on_the_top,_07.12.2011.jpg|Serbian cross on the dome of the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade

File:OKS.svg|Logo of the Olympic Committee of Serbia

File:ChippedSerbianID_face.png|Serbian identity card

File:Serbian license plate 2011.jpg|Serbian vehicle registration plate

File:Montenegrin cap.jpg|Montenegrin cap

File:Christmas-Serbian Ortodox Česnica.jpg|Česnica, Serbian Christmas bread

• National symbols of Serbia
• Serbian eagle

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Milićević|first=Milić|title=Grb Srbije: razvoj kroz istoriju|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nyNYAAAAMAAJ|year=1995|publisher=Službeni glasnik|isbn=9788675490470}}
• {{cite journal|last=Palavestra|first=Aleksandar|title=O ocilima|journal=Glasnik SHD|date=June 1998|url=http://srpskoheraldickodrustvo.com/documents/heraldika/02-o-ocilima.pdf |language=sr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191407/http://srpskoheraldickodrustvo.com/documents/heraldika/02-o-ocilima.pdf |archive-date=2013-10-29 }}
• {{cite book|last=Solovjev|first=Aleksandar Vasiljevič|title=Istorija srpskog grba|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BAVIAAAAMAAJ|year=1958|publisher=Srpska misao}}
• {{cite book|last=Stanojević|first=Stanoje|chapter=O srpskom grbu|title=Iz naše prošlosti|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=omhJAQAAIAAJ|year=1934|publisher=Geca Kon A. D.|location=Belgrade|pages=85–90}}

{{Commons category|Serbian cross}}

• {{cite news|author=Борис Субашић |date=16 March 2014 |title=Србија сачувала симболе Византије |publisher=Novosti|url= http://www.novosti.rs/вести/насловна/репортаже.409.html:482850-Србија-сачувала-симболе-Византије |language=sr}}

{{National symbols of Serbia}}

{{Christian crosses}}

Category:Crosses by culture

Category:Culture of Serbia

Category:National symbols of Serbia

Category:Crosses in heraldry

Category:History of the Serbs